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Number of Anti-coalition Attacks Goes Up in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2005  The number and severity of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces have increased compared to the winter, a coalition spokeswoman noted April 2.

An increase in discoveries of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan shows "that some in the Taliban or other anti-government insurgents will continue to try to destabilize Afghanistan through violent acts," Navy Lt. Cindy Moore, of Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, told reporters during a press briefing today.

Although some former Taliban have decided to stop fighting, "there is still a threat out there capable of IED, car bomb and small unit attacks," Moore observed.

However, she said, coalition forces will continue to aggressively pursue those seeking to destabilize Afghanistan's government.

Coalition forces depend on the assistance of the people of Afghanistan to help rid their country of old, hidden ordnance or pinpoint enemy bombs and suspected insurgents, Moore said.

The coalition "will continue working with the Afghan National Army and the government of Afghanistan to prevent the loss of innocent lives," Moore vowed. The people of Afghanistan, she continued, "are the most important and vital part of our effort to create a stable environment within Afghanistan for the upcoming elections."

Afghanistan's enemies "still want to see the Taliban stage some kind of comeback. However, the political and economic developments in Afghanistan have made it less attractive for al Qaeda and Taliban," Moore said.

The future of Afghanistan lies upon a democratic path that the Afghan people have chosen, she said.